Theresa May, Ivanka Trump to headline Dubai women's forum

Former British prime minister Theresa May and Ivanka Trump, US President Donald Trump’s daughter and adviser, are among the high-profile dignitaries headlining the Global Women’s Forum Dubai .

Ivanka is set to deliver a keynote address during the official opening of the forum, which will take place from Feb.16-17. It is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Ruler of Dubai.

UK’s second female Prime Minister Theresa May will participate in a plenary conversation during the second day of the Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020.

She joins other high-profile international speakers at the Forum, including Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, and David Malpass, President of the World Bank.

Drawing on over two decades of experience in Britain’s Parliament, May will share her perspectives on female leadership in government and the important contribution of women to political life. The session will be moderated by Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

A strong advocate for gender parity in UK politics, May co-founded Women2Win, an organisation committed to increasing female representation within her party, by identifying, training and mentoring female candidates for public office.

Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of Dubai Women Establishment, and wife of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, said: "We are honoured to have Theresa May join us at Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020 this year. With an extraordinary political career spanning over two decades, which saw her rise to become one of the world’s most influential women, Theresa May is a prime example of female potential and what women can achieve in traditionally male-dominated environments. As a role model for aspiring female politicians around the world, she has championed women and contributed to enhancing female representation within this field, famously stating that ‘a woman’s place is in elected office’.”

Building on its theme, ‘The Power of Influence’, Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020 will highlight how effective policies and partnerships in four key areas – Government, Economy, Society, and the Future – can further women’s positive impact for a better future.

IVANKA TRUMP

An entrepreneur herself, Ivanka has spearheaded a wide range of initiatives and programmes to support women-owned businesses around the world, particularly in emerging markets. She has been instrumental in launching the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, an effort to encourage women in developing nations to participate in their economies. The initiative marks its first anniversary on Feb.12.

Ivanka will also participate in the We-Fi MENA Regional Summit in Dubai, which takes place on the sidelines of GWFD 2020 for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa region. The summit is co-organised by Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) and the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), a ground-breaking multinational partnership launched in 2017 to unlock financing for women-led businesses in developing countries. The initiative is supported by the UAE government, which was among the first contributing donor countries.

Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of the Board and Managing Director of DWE, said: "It will be a pleasure to welcome Ivanka Trump to the Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020 this year. As a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, and a champion of female entrepreneurship, she has established effective partnerships and led a variety of initiatives that have furthered the positive impact of women across the world. Ivanka Trump will bring valuable expertise and insights into boosting support to women-owned enterprises and propelling female entrepreneurs across the region. We look forward to having her at GWFD 2020.”